Machine for attaching pulls to slide fastener sliders



Nov. 2, 1954 M. H. LANGE 2,693,217

MACHINE FOR ATTACHING PULLS TO SLIDE FASTENER SLIDERS Filed April 29, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet l MAX Ii LA/VGE INVENTOR.

M. -H. LANGE Nov. 2, 1954 MACHINE FOR ATTACHING PULLS TO SLIDE FASTENER SLIDERS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 29. 1950 IN VENTOR.

A 77'0l-P/VCV MAX H AAA/a5 Nov. 2, 1954 M. H. LANGE 2,693,217

MACHINE FOR ATTACHING PULLS T0 SLIDE FASTENER SLIDERS Filed April 29, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 6

MAX hf'LA/vsr INVENTOR.

Nov. 2, 1954 M. H. LANGE 2,693,217

MACHINE FOR ATTACHING PULLS TO SLIDE FASTENER SLIDERS Filed April 29. 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 MAX H LANGE INVENTOR Nov. 2, 1954 M. H. LANGE MACHINE FOR ATTACK-{INS PULLS TO SLIDE FASTENER SLIDERS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 29, 1950 MAX 1% LANGL INVENTOR.

Nov. 2, 1954 M. H. LANGE 2,693,217

MACHINE FOR ATTACHING PULLS T0 sum: FASTENER SLIDERS Filed April 29, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 4w \1 4W \1 Q R 5% w 3 I MAX h. LA/VGZ' INVENTOR.

United States Patent MACHINE FUR ATTACHING PULLS TO SLIDE FASTENER SLIDERS Max H. Lange, New York, N. Y., assignor to Slidelock International, Ltd., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York This invention relates to a machine used in a step in the process of manufacturing slide fasteners, and more particularly to a machine for assembling and hingedly attaching the pull or bail to a lug formed on the slider, to enable the pull to be gripped by the fingers, in order to move the slider along the slide fastener elements, to manipulate the interlocking elements into and out of engagement with the opposite elements.

While various types of pulls, or bails, are used in conjunction with slide fastener sliders, they generally have a pair of pivot prongs formed at one end, which fit into an opening formed in a lug formed on the upper wall of the slider, to pivotally support the pull. The pulls are generally formed with the pivot prongs spaced apart, attached to legs formed integral with the body of the pull, and angularly located, to enable each pivot prong to enter a corresponding opening formed in the slider lug, pressure being applied to legs formed at the sides of the pull, to force the prongs into the lug openings, to permanently attach the pull to the slider.

Due to the peculiar shape of the pull and the slider, and the accuracy required in the relation of the slider to the fastener elements, after assembly, the location of the pull with relation to the slider, and the assembly thereto, has been a difficult and delicate operation.

Various devices and methods have been used for feeding the pulls and sliders to the assembly position, and

assembling them. They have been relatively costly to produce, and have involved a number of complicated operating, adjustment and maintainence problems.

The operating speed of the manual and semi-automatically operated units have been relatively slow, with the result that the cost is disproportionately high, as compared to the cost of other operations in the manufacture of slide fasteners.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a simple, compact machine, which automatically feeds the sliders and pulls to the assembly position, and assembles the pivot prongs of the pull to the slider lugs, at high speed, accurately, and dependably, thereby performing the operation at low cost.

A further object is to provide a machine, which will accurately position and support the pulls and sliders, so that they can be assembled with a minimum of distortion.

Another object is to provide a machine which will accommodate a wide range of sizes and types of pulls and sliders, with a minimum of alteration and adjustment.

.A further object is to provide a machine, in which the pulls and sliders are automatically and continuously fed to the assembly position, automatically assembled, and discharged without interruption, the pulls and sliders being accurately supported, in such a manner as to reduce deformation and damage to the parts to a minimum.

Another object is to provide a machine which can be operated and maintained by an operator of ordinary skill, and will maintain its adjustment and accuracy with relatively little attention over sustained periods.

The primary object is to produce a machine which Will automatically select and position the pulls and sliders,

automatically transport and locate them in the assembly position, automatically retain and clamp them during the assembly operation, and automatically discharge the assembled unit, after the assembly is completed.

The accompanying drawings, illustrative of one embodiment of the machine of my invention, and several modifications thereof, together with the description of their construction and the method of operation thereof,

2,693,217 Patented Nov. 2, 1954 will serve to clarify further objects and advantages of my invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a schematic front elevation of the assembled machine, mounted on a table.

Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view of the assembled machine of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the slider hopper and chute assembly mechanism of the machine of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the slider hopper, shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a partial plan view of the slider hopper assembly of Figs. 3 and 4.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section through one wall of the gliders hopper and pickup blade of Fig. 5, taken at 6-6,

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the assembly, locating and closing mechanism of the machine of Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical section through the assembly, locating, and discharge mechanism of Figs. 1 and 7, showing the pull and slider in place.

Fig. 9 is a vertical section through the assembly and prong-closing mechanism of Figs. 1 and 7, taken at 99,

Fig. 10 is an enlarged section through the closing dies of Fig. 9, with the slider and pull in place.

Fig. 11 is a vertical section through the drum type of pull hopper of the machine of Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the open end of the drum of the hopper of Fig. 11, showing the bafiles and funnel.

Fig. 13 is a cross-section through the feed rollers of the pull hopper of Fig. 11, taken at 13-13, Fig. 11.

Fig. 14 is a cross-section through the feed rollers, similar to Fig. 13, showing the annular discharge channel gormetli through one of the rollers, taken at 14-14,

Fig. 15 is a vertical section through another embodiment of the pull hopper of Figs. 1 and 11.

Fig. 16 is a partial front elevation of the pull hopper and pull feed chute of Fig. 15.

Fig. 17 is a partial plan view of the pull hopper and pick-up rail of Fig. 15.

Fig. 18 is an enlarged end elevation of the pull feed chute of Fig. 15

Fig. 19 is a cross-section through the pick-up rail of the hopper of Fig. 17, with the legs of the plain pull fitted to the head of the rail.

Fig. 20 is a plan view of one type of pull, fitted with a central angle-limiting prong.

Fig. 21 is a front elevation of the pull of Fig. 20.

Fig. 22 is a plan view of a plain pull, similar to that shown in Fig. 20.

Fig. 23 is a front elevation of the pull of Fig. 22.

Fig. 24 is a plan view of a pull, similar to Fig. 20, with the angle-limiting prong, formed on one side leg of the pull.

Fig. 25 is a front elevation of the pull of Fig. 24.

Fig. 26 is an end elevation of the pull, shown in Figs. 24 and 25.

Fig. 27 is a plan view of the pull of Fig. 20, assembled to a slider.

Fig. 28 is a front elevation of the slider and pull assembly of Fig. 27.

It will be understood that the following description of the construction and operation of the Slider and Pull Assembly Machine, is intended as explanatory of the invention and not restrictive thereof.

in the drawings, the same reference numerals designate the same parts throughout the various views, except where otherwise indicated.

One embodiment of the machine, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. comprises an angularly mounted substantially cylindrical hopper 10, mounted on a table 11, the hopper being used for storing and feeding sliders 12, shown inv 3 .ang larly mounted, the inner rotating mechanism 16. being driven by a shaft 17, which is connected by a balljoint 18, or other suitable .type of flexible coupling, to

.a motor and speed-reducer unit 19,, the driven shaft 28,

of which, supports the bail end' 21, of the ball-joint coupling.

The hopper comprises a substantially cylindrical container having an outer wall 25, formed integral with, or attached to the bottom wall 26, thereof. A substantially conical guide disc 27, may be rotatably mounted on the upper end of the shaft 17, as indicated in Fig. 4, the guide disc directing the sliders 12, toward the outer wall of the hopper.

A thin blade 28, may be located within the hopper 10, the forward edge of the blade, being of arcuate form, following the contour of the vertical hopper wall, the gap 29, between the wall of the hopper and the adjacent edge of the blade being slightly greater than the thickness of the lower section 38, of the slider. The thickness of the blade 28 is slightly less than the width of the gap 31, formed between the lower section 3.6), and the upper section 32 of the slider, thus allowing the slider to slide along the blade, while facing in one direction, with the outer surface ,of the lower slider section, adjoining the hopper wall. When the sliders light on the blade with the slider sections facing in the opposite direction, a pair of lugs 33, formed integral with the upper wall of the slider, prevents the entrance of the blade 28 into the gap in the slider.

The blade 28 is sloped upward from the pick-up end 34, mounted adjacent the outer rim of the guide disc, toward the discharge end 35, which passes through a slot 36, formed in the outer Wall of the hopper.

Air, under pressure, may be fed through a tube 40, into a nozzle 41, located at the end of the tube, the nozzle being mounted inside the wall of the hopper, above the blade 28, the air pressure propelling the sliders along the rail or blade.

From the discharge end of the blade 28, the sliders enter a chute 42, mounted adjacent the side of the hopper, the sliders being propelled, by gravity, along the sloping section of the chute, the spiral form of the chute changing the position of the line of sliders from the vertical position, in which they leave the end of the blade, to a substantially horizontal position, with the bottom section 30, of the slider, sliding along the bottom wall 43 of the chute, so that the sliders reach the assembly position, shown, in Figs. 1 and 7, in the correct position for assembly with the pulls, as will be hereinafter described.

The pulls 14 or 15, fitted with angle-limiting prongs 44 or 45, as shown in Figs. 21 and 25, may be loaded into the substantially cylindrical drum 13. The pulls, after striking a plurality of baffles 46 and 47, mounted at the rear wall of the drum, as indicated in Fig. 12, are thrown on a pair of angularly mounted, substantially parallel rollers 48 and 49, which are located at substantially the center of the drum, the rollers being rotated in opposite directions, a gap 58, of a width slightly greater than the thickness of the body 51 or 52, of the pull, being left between the rollers to allow the pulls to slide in a substantially vertical position, between the shafts, as indicated in Fig. 14.

The tubular drum 13 may be rotatably supported by a plurality of rollers 53 and 53a. Each of the rear rollers 53 may be rotatably supported on the stationary plate 54 of the hopper, by a pin, threadably attached to the plate. The rollers 53a, supporting the forward end of the drum may be rotatably supported by brackets, located at opposite sides of the drum. A plate 55, attached to the open end of the tubular drum, may be guided by an additional pair of rollers 53]), rotatably attached to a support plate on opposite sides of the plate 55.

A substantially vertical prong 44 may be formed integral with the body 51 of the pull, shown in Figs. and 21, the prong being formed at the outer end of a central legl56, located between the outer legs 57 and 57a of the pul A similar prong 45, may be formed integral with one of the angular legs 59, of the pull 15, shown in Figs. 24 and 25. A plurality of annular channels 60, may be formed in the left-hand roller 48, as indicated in section in Fig. 14-, the prong 44 or 45, of the pull, dropping through the channel, thereby allowing the pull to drop between the rollers, into the interior of the drum.

When the pulls are in the proper position for attachment .to the slider, the prong 44 or 45, of the pull, is located at the right-hand side of the pull, as indicated in Fig. 13, thus enabling the row of pulls to be fed, by gravity, between the rotating rollers 48 and 49.

From the outer end of the rollers 48 and 49, the pulls are transferred to a chute 63, of substantially rectangular cross-section, as indicated in Fig. 11, the outer plate 64, attached to the side walls, of the chute, having a slot 65 formed therethrough, to allow the vertical prong 44 or 45, of the pull, to pass through the slot, when the pull is delivered to the chute in the proper position for assembly with the slider.

The chute 63 may be sloped downward from the outer end .of the drum, to the assembly position, the walls of the chute being spiralled so that the pulls, delivered in the vertical position, at the upper end of the chute, are transferred to a substantially horizontal position, in correct alignment for assembly with the slider.

Although numerous types of sliders are used on slide fasteners, they generally take the form of the slider 12, shown in Figs. 27 and 28, which comprises a shaped bottom section 30 and a similarly formed upper section 32, formed integral therewith, the two sections being joined by a connecting end wall 68, the opposite end of the slider being open, with a gap 31, formed between the upper and lower slider sections.

A pair of lugs 33, may be formed integral with the upper wall of the slider, as indicated in Figs. 26 and 27, each of the lugs having an opening 69, formed therethrough, to receive the pivot prongs 70 or 71, formed at the outer end of the legs of the pull, as shown in Figs. 20 and 24.

Several types of bail or pull may be attached to the slider. One type, shown in Figs. 21 and 22, has a pair of angular legs 57 and 57a, formed integral with the lower end of the body 51, the pivot prongs 70, being formed integral with, and substantially perpendicular to the angular legs 57 and 57a.

A substantially vertical prong 44, may be formed integral with the outer end of a central leg 56, located between the side legs 57 and 57a, to limit the angular movement of the pull, when it is assembled to the slider.

In the pull, shown in Figs. 24 and 25, the vertical prong 45 is formed integral with one of the angular legs 59 and 59a, of the pull, the central leg being omitted. The pivot prongs 71, may be formed integral with, and substantially perpendicular to the outer end of the legs 59 and 59a, of the pull, the location diameter and length of the pivot prongs 71, being substantially the same as the prongs 70, in the pull shown in Figs. 20 and 21.

The locating mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 7, is located at substantially the center of the lower, or discharge end of the chutes 42 and 63.

Two rocking levers 76 and 76a, may be attached to two substantially parallel shafts 77 and 77a, rotatably supported by a housing 78, which is attached to the table 11, as indicated in Figs. 7 and 9. A finger 79 may be pivotally attached to the lower end of the lever 76, by means of a pivot pin 80, the forward edge 81, of the finger, bemg shaped in such a manner as to engage the upper surface of the body 51 or 52, of the pull to retain the pull in the assembly position with relation to the slider 12. A coiled tension spring 84, may be provrded, to connect the upper end of the finger 79 with the head of the lever 76, thus retaining the lower edge gldof the finger in the proper position against the pull A similar finger 85, may be pivotally attached to the lower end of the lever 76a, the tip 86, of the finger bemg pointed at the forward end, with a hollow section cut out behind the tip, to enable the tip of the lever to engage the lugs 33, formed on the upper section of the slider, and move the slider into the assembly posi tron.

A coiled tension spring 84 may be inserted between the upper end of the finger 85 and the head of the lever 76a, to press the tip of the finger against the upper section of the slider.

The assembly mechanism may be supported by a bracket 88, mounted on the table 11, an extension 89, depending from the bracket, being fitted through an opening formed in the top of the table.

An anvil 91 may be pivotally attached to the bracket 88, by means of a pin 92, the anvil supporting the slider 12, and the pull 14 in the assembly position, as indicated in Fig. 8.

7 A lip 93 may be formed integral with the pivoted side ,of the anvil 91, the lower section of the slider, fitting into a gap formed below the lip 93. When the tip of the finger 85 engages the lugs 33, formed at the top "ofthe slider, one slider 12a is movedinto the assembly .position, shown in Fig. 8

Simultaneously, one of the pulls 14 or 15, is moved into position, above the upper section of the slider 12,

with the pivot prongs 70 or 71, at the end of the pull,

in alignment with the openings 69, formed in the slider lugs. The forward tip of the finger 79 engages the top of the body of the pull to support the pull in the assembly 97, the cam surface engaglng a follower roller 98,

rotatably attached to the bottom of a rocking lever 99. The rocking lever 99, fitted into a slot formed in the .bracket extension 89, may be pivotally attached to the bracket by a pivot pin 100.

A bell-crank 101, pivotally attached to the bracket 88,

may be mounted above the lever 99, one arm of the bellcrank-being pivotally connected to the upper arm of the lever 99, by a pivot pin 102, with the end of the other arm of the bell-crank connected to the anvil, a slot being formed in the bell-crank arm to provide for the angular movement of the anvil, from the assembly position, shown in Fig. 8, to the discharge position, shown by dot-dash lines, Fig. 8.

A tension spring 104, one end of which may be attached to the table top by a screw 105, or other suitable attaching means, with the'opposite end attached to the upper arm of the lever 99, may be provided, to press the follower roller against outer surface of the plate cam 96.

When the circular base section 107, of the cam, is in engagement with the follower'roller 98, the anvil is retained in the upper, or assembly position, shown in Fig. 8.

When the cam is rotated until one of the lands 188, engages the follower roller 98, the lower arm of the lever 99 is moved inward, thus moving the upper arm of the lever, and the lower bell-crank arm outward, the

upper bell-crank arm canting the anvil, with the slider and pull assembly mounted thereon, into the discharge position.

An angularly mounted chute 109, may be mounted in substantial alignment with an opening 110, formed in the bracket extension, the slider and pull assembly sliding, by gravity, from the anvil, through the opening 110, whence it is discharged, by gravity, along the chute 109.

When the opposite land 111, of the cam is reached, the follower roller 98 is again raised to the circular base section 187 of the cam, the anvil being restored to the assembly position, shown in Fig. 8.

The closing mechanism, for pressing the pivot prongs of the pull into the openings in the slider lugs, is shown in detail in Fig. 9. The shaft 97, at the center of which the plate cam 96 is mounted, may be rotatably supported by a pair of ball bearings, or other suitable type of antifriction bearings, a pulley 114, mounted on the end of the shaft, being driven by means of a V-belt or other type of belt, by a motor (not shown) to rotatably drive the shaft 97.

A. pair of face cams 115 may be mounted on the shaft 97, at opposite sides of the cam 96, the cam surfaces 116, of the cams, engaging a pair of follower rollers 117, each of which is rotatably attached to the bottom of a rocking lever 118.

-The rocking levers 118 and 118a may be pivotally supported on the bracket extension 89 by a pair of pivot pins 119. A pair of clamping jaws 120 and 128a may be slidably mounted in a slot formed in the upper 'wall of the bracket, each of the jaws being attached to a sliding block 121, by means of a screw 122, or other suitabe attaching means.

A lip 124, formed at the upper edge of each of the rocking levers 118 and 11801, engages the rear wall of the corresponding block to press the blocks, and the jaws attached thereto, inward, against the legs 57 and 57a of the pull, thereby pressing the pivot prongs 78 into the openings formed in the slider lugs, when the cam surface 116 of the face cam 115 is rotated into the clamping position, as indicated in the enlarged section, Fig. 10.

A coiled tension spring may be mounted between the lower arms of the rocking levers 118 and 118a, the looped ends 126, of the spring, being attached to the corresponding levers, the spring drawing the lever arms inward, thereby retaining the follower rollers 117 in engagement with the cam surfaces of the cams 115.

The levers 76 and 76a, mounted on the parallel shafts 77 and 77a, are rocked from the free position, to the assembly position, by an eccentric 128, mounted on the shaft 97, thus moving the fingers into the assembly position, shown in Fig. 8.

A substantially tubular sleeve 129, may be mounted on the eccentric 128, a bronze, as other suitable type of sleeve bearing 130, engaging the surface of the eccentric. A tubular housing 131 may be attached to a substantially cylindrical extension 132, formed integral with the upper section of the sleeve 129.

A rocking lever 134 may be attached to one of the rocking shafts 77a, the lower arm of the lever 134, being pivotally attached to the upper end of a substantially cylindrical plunger 135, slidably mounted in the tubular housing 131. A coiled compression spring 136 may be mounted in the annular space between the plunger and the inner wall of the tubular housing, the upper end of the spring engaging the inner surface of a cap 137, attached to the upper end of the tubular housing, the opposite end pressing against an enlarged extension 138, formed integral with the bottom of the plunger, to transmit the movement of the eccentric sleeve 129 to the plunger.

A gear 139 may be mounted on one of the rocking shafts 77a, with a mating gear attached to the parallel shaft 77, the gears synchronizing the rocking movement of the shafts, with the movement of the eccentric 128.

When the shaft 97 is rotated, the fingers 79 and 85, press a slider 12, and a pull 14, into the assembly position, shown in Fig. 8.

After the legs of the pull are in the assembly position, the rotation of the face cams 115, moves the lower arms of the pivoted levers 118 and 118a outward, thereby pressing the lips 124, formed at the upper end of the levers 118, inward against the blocks 121, thus moving the blocks and the sliding jaws 120 and 120a inward, the inner edge of each of the jaws engaging the outer edge of the corresponding leg of the pull, thereby pressing the pivot prongs of the pull into thecorresponding opening in the slider lug, and forming the slider and pull assembly, shown in Figs. 27 and 28.

After the assembly operation is completed, the cam 96, rocks the anvil 91, into the discharge position, shown in dot-dash lines, Fig. 8, the slider assembly being discharged through the chute.

After the anvil is restored to the assembly position by the cam 96, the fingers 79 and 85, feed another slider 12 and a pull 14, from the discharge end of the corresponding chutes, the operation being repeated continuously, at high speed.

Where plain type of pulls 140, shown in Figs. 22 and 23, are to be assembled, another embodiment of the pull hopper 141, shown in Figs. 15 and 16, may be utiizsed in place of the drum hopper shown in Figs. 1 an The hopper may be angularly mounted, the inner rotating mechanism 142 being driven by a rotating shaft 143, which is connected by a flexible coupling 144, to the driven shaft of a speed reducer 145 driven by a motor, or other suitable power source (not shown).

A substantially conical guide plate 146, may be attached to the upper end of the shaft, the outer diameter of the plate, being smaller thanthe inner diameter of the hopper.

A rotating plate 147, may be mounted on the shaft 143, above the bottom wall of the hopper, the lower edge )f the guide plate 146, clearing the plate 147.

A rail 148, shown in cross-section in Fig. 1.9, may be mounted inside the hopper, the top of the head 149, of the rail, adjoining the outer circumference of the guide plate 146. The sides 158 of the head of the rail may be sloped outward. to receive the legs 151 of the plain pull, is indicated in Fig. 19, the pivot prongs 152 of the pull, slidably engaging the lower edges 153, of the rail head.

When the plain pulls, loaded in the hopper, are separated by the rotation of the guide late, the legs of some offltliespulls engage the head of the pick-up end of the ra The rail may be sloped upward, as indicated in Fig.

-l5, from the pick-up end of the head to the outer end,

which passes through a slot formed in the outer wall 155 of the hopper.

The pulls 140, slidably supported on the rail, in a substantially vertical position, as indicated in Fig. 19, may be moved' along the rail to a chute 156, of substantially rectangular cross-section, which is fitted to the outer end of the rail 148. The chute 156 feeds the pulls from the rail 148, mounted in the hopper, to the assembly position, shown in Figs. 7 and 8, in substantially the same manner as the chute of Fig. 1.

Air under pressure may be supplied through a nozzle,

similar to that shown in Fig. 3, to propel the pulls along apparatus, shown in Figs. and 16, is substantially the same as. that shown in Figure 1, and hereinbetore described.

The sliders may be of the type shown in Figs. 27 and 28, or any other similar type of slider may be used.

The pulls may be of the central prong type, shown in Figs. and 21, the side prong type shown in Figs. 24, and 26, the plain type, shown in Figs. 22 and 23, or any other suitable type of pull may be utilized.

The hoppers shown in Figs. 1, 5 and 15, may be driven by a motor, connected to a reduction gear, or directconnected to a slow-speed or variable-speed motor, or any other suitable type of drive may be substituted.

The drum type of hopper shown in Figs. 1 and 11, may be used for pronged pulls, of various types, or other suitable type of hopper or selection and feed mechanism, may be substituted therefor.

The lever and finger mechanism shown in Figs. 1, 7 and 8, for transferring the individual sliders and pulls from the corresponding chutes to the assembly anvil may be modified considerably, or replaced by other suitable type of locating and feed mechanism.

The pivoted anvil, shown in Fig. 8, for supporting the slider and pull in the assembly position, and discharging the assembled slider and pull along the discharge chute, may be replaced by a sliding, or other suitable type of anvil, or other support mechanism.

The air pressure system, shown in Fig. 3, for propelling the sliders and pulls along the corresponding rails, may be replaced by a mechanical unit, or other suitable means of continuously moving the sliders and pulls along the corresponding rails.

The plate cam, and the face cam shown in Fig. 9, and the eccentric, used for synchronizing the feeding and locating mechanism of Fig. 8, and the closing mechanism, may be altered, or replaced by other suitable timing and synchronizing device, which will feed the sliders and pulls from the respective supply mechanism to the point of assembly and synchronize the pull closing mechanism, with the locating mechanism.

The sliding jaws, shown in Fig. 9, for closing the prongs of the pull, over the slider lugs, and the method of actuating them, may be altered considerably, jaws of a pivoted lever or other suitable type being substituted, provided the synchronization with the feeding and locating mechanism, and the operational timing are maintained.

The machine may be utilized for assembling a wide range of sizes and types of sliders and pulls, the essentials of the apparatus remaining the same, the feed rails, chutes, and the locating mechanism being altered in accordance with the specific type and size of pull and slider to be assembled.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that my present invention is not limited to the specific details described above and shown in the drawings, and that various further modifications are possible in carrying out the features of the invention, without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An apparatus for attaching pulls to slide fastener sliders, each of said pulls having a pair of pivot prongs formed integral therewith, each of said sliders having a set of openings formed therein, to receive said prongs, each of said pulls having an angle-limiting prong formed integral therewith, comprising a base, a hopper storing said sliders, said hopper comprising an angularly mounted container, a rotating plate mounted within said container, a raised substantially conical guide plate mounted adjacent the rotating plate, rotating therewith, a blade mounted within the container, one end of said blade being adjacent the outer circumference of the rotating guide plate, said guide plate and rotating plate transferring selected sliders from the hopper to the blade, means propelling the sliders along the blade, a hopper storing said pulls, said hopper comprising a substantially tubular member, a plate mounted adjacent one end of said tubular member, a plurality of baffles mounted on said plate, a pair of oppositely-rotating rollers supported by the plate, the baffies directing the sliders from the hopper toward the rollers, said rollers aligning the pulls and transferring the pulls to a conveying means, a plurality of slots formed in one of the rollers, clearing the angle-limiting prong, when the prong is out of the assembly position, means conveying the sliders from the blade to a common point of assembly, means transporting the pulls to the assembly point, means automatically locating and retaining an individual slider in the assembly position, means, co-ordinated with the slider locating means, automatically locating and retaining a pull in the assembly position, with relation to the corresponding slider, an anvil pivotally supported by the base, a shaft rotatably supported by the base, a pair of jaws slidably mounted adjacent the anvil, pressing the pull prongs into the slider opening, a bracket attached to the base, a pair of jaw control levers pivotally supported by said bracket, one end of each of said levers engaging one of the sliding jaws, a pair of face cams mounted on the base shaft engaging the opposite end of said jaw control levers to move the jaws into the prong closing position, a rocking lever pivotally supported by said bracket, a bell crank pivotally supported by said bracket, said bell crank operatively connecting one end of the rocking lever with the anvil, a plate cam mounted on the base shaft engaging the opposite end of the rocking lever to control the slider discharge movement of the anvil coordinated with the prong jaw sliding movement, the trip ping of said anvil discharging the slider and pull assembly, and means co-ordinating said retaining, assembly, and discharge means.

2. An apparatus for attaching pulls to slide fastener sliders, each of said pulls having a pair of pivot prongs, formed integral therewith, each of said sliders having a set of openings formed therein to receive said prongs, comprising a base, a hopper storing said sliders, a hopper storing said pulls, means selecting and aligning the sliders from the hopper, means selecting and aligning the pulls from the pull hopper, means conveying the sliders from the hopper to a common point of assembly, means conveying the pulls from the hopper to the assembly point, an anvil supporting an individual slider in the assembly position, means pivotally supporting said anvil, a housing fitted to said apparatus, between the hoppers, a pair of shafts rotatably supported by the housing, a rocking lever mounted on each of said shafts, a slider control finger pivotally attached to the lower end of one of said levers, said finger transferring an individual slider from the conveying means to the anvil, locating the slider, and retaining the slider in the assembly position, a pull control finger pivotally attached to the lower end of the opposite lever, said finger transferring an individual pull from the conveyor means to the assembly position, with relation to the slider, and retaining the pull in the assembly position, means coordinating the movement of the slider and pull finger support levers, spring means retaining said fingers in engagement withv the slider and the pull respectively, a cam controlling the movement of said lever mechanisms, a pair of sliding jaws pressing the pull prongs into the openings formed in the slider, a cam mechanism controlling the movement of the sliding jaws, a bracket supported by the base, a rocking lever pivotally supported by said bracket, a bell crank pivotally supported by said bracket, said bell crank cperatively connecting one end of the rocking lever with the anvil, a plate cam coordinated with the sliding jaw cam mechanism rotatably mounted in the base, said plate cam engaging the opposite end of said rocking lever to trip the anvil when the sliding jaws complete the prong insertion movement, means co-ordinating said'lcam operating mechamsrns, and means conveying the slider andpull assembly from the tilted anvil.

- 3. An apparatus'for attaching pulls to slide fastener the pull hopper, means conveying the sliders frorn'the' hopperto a common point of assembly, means conveying the pulls from the pull hopper to the assembly point, an anvil supporting an individual slider in the assembly position, means pivotally supporting said anvil, a housing fittedv to saidapparatus between the hoppers, a pair of: substantially parallel rocking shafts supported by the housing, a rocking lever mounted on each of said shafts, a slider control finger pivotally attached to the lower end of oneof said levers, said finger transferring an individual slider from the conveying means to the anvil, locating the slider, and retaining the slider in the assembly position, a pull control-finger pivotally attached to the lower end of the opposite lever, said finger transferring an individual pull from the conveyor means to the assembly position with relation to the slider, and retaining the pullin the assembly position, spring means retaining said fingers in engagement with the slider and the pull respectively, a shaft rotatably supported by said base, means mounted on said shaft, rocking one of said parallel shafts, means co-ordinating the movement of said shafts, a pair of sliding jaws pressing the pull prongs into the openings formed in the slider, a plurality of cams, mounted on said shaft, controlling the movement of said sliding jaws, said jaws pressing the pull prongs into the openings formed in the slider, a bracket supported by the base, a rocking lever pivotally supported by said bracket, a bell crank pivotally supported by said bracket,

said bell crank operatively connecting one end of the rocking lever with the anvil, a plate cam mounted on the base shaft engaging the opposite end of the rocking lever, to control the slider releasing movement of the anvil, co-ordinated with the prong insertion sliding jaw movement, and means conveying the slider and pull assembly from the tilted anvil. I

4. An apparatus for attaching pulls to slide fastener sliders, each of said pulls having a pair of pivot prongs, formed integral therewith, each of said sliders having a set of openings formed therein to receive said prongs, comprising a base, a hopper storing said sliders mounted on said base, a hopper storing said pulls mounted on said base, means selecting and aligning the sliders from the hopper, means selecting and aligning the pulls from the pull hopper, means conveying the sliders from the hopper to a common point of assembly, means conveying the pulls from the pull hopper to the assembly point, an anvil supporting an individual slider in the assembly position, means pivotally supporting said anvil, a housing fitted to said apparatus between the hoppers, a pair of substantially parallel rocking shafts supported by the housing, a rocking lever mounted on each of said shafts, a slider control finger pivotally attached to the lower end of one of said levers, said finger transferring an individual slider from the conveying means to the anvil, locating the slider, and retaining the slider in the assembly position, a pull control finger pivotally attached to the lower end of the opposite lever, said finger transferring an individual pull from the conveyor means to the assembly position with relations to the slider, and retaining the pull in the assembly position,spring means retaining said fingers in engagement with the slider and the pull respectively, a shaft rotatably supported by said base, an eccentric mounted on said shaft, rocking one of said parallel shafts, means co-ordinating the movement of said shafts, a pair of sliding jaws pressing the pull prongs into the openings formed in the slider, a plurality of cams mounted on said shaft, controlling the movement of said slid ing jaws, said jaws pressing the pull prongs into the openings formed in the slider, a bracket supported by the base, a rocking lever pivotally supported by said bracket, a bell crank pivotally supported by said bracket, said bell crank operatively connecting one end of the rocking lever with the anvil, a plate cam mounted on the base shaft engaging the opposite end of} the rocking-lever to controlthe: slider releasing mo'vem'entof the anvil, coordinated with the prong insertion sliding jaw movement,

and means conveying the slider and pull assembly from 1 the tilted anvil.

5. An apparatus for attaching pulls to slide fastener sliders,each of said pulls having a pair of-pivot prongs formedintegral therewith, each of said sliders having a set of openings formed therein'to receive said pull pivot prongs, each ofsaid pullshaving an angle-limiting prong integral therewith, comprising a base, a first hopper for storing the sliders'mounted on the base, means selecting and aligning said sliders'from the first hopper, a secondhopper for storing the' pulls mounted on the base 1 in spaced relation to the first hopper, the second hopper comprising a substantially tubular rotating member, a plate mounted adjacent one endofsaidtub'ular rotating member, a plurality'of bafiies mounted on said plate, a pair of oppositely-rotating rollers supported by the plate,

the batfiesi being operative to direct the pulls from the second hopper toward the rollers, said rollers being operative to align the pulls and transfer the pulls to a conveying means, a slot formed in one of the rollers clearing the angle-limiting prong on the pull, when said prong 11s out of: the requiredposition for alignment with a slider, means conveying the pulls from the rollers to the point of assembly with the corresponding sliders, an anvil support bracket supported by the base between the first and second hopper, an anvil operative to support an individual slider in the assembly position pivotally attached to the anvil support bracket, means conveying the sliders from the first hopper toward the anvil, a housing fitted to said apparatus between the first and second hoppers, a pair of rocking lever support shafts rotatably supported by the housing above the anvil, a rocking lever mounted on each of said support shafts, a slider control finger pivotally attached to the lower end of one of said rocking levers, said slider control finger being operative to transfer an individual slider from the conveying means to the anvil, locate the slider on the anvil, and retain the slider in the assembly position on the anvil, a pull control finger pivotally attached to the lower end of the second rocking lever, said pull control finger being operative to transfer an individual pull from the conveying means to the corresponding slider supported by the anvil and retain the pull in the assembly position relative to the slider, means coordinating the movement of the slider and pull finger support rocking levers, a cam controlling the movement of said rocking lever support shafts, a pair of sliding jaws operative to press the pull prongs into the mating openings in the slider, a cam mechanism operative to control the movement of the sliding jaws, a bracket extension depending from the anvil support, bracket adjacent the anvil, a cam-controlled rocking lever pivotally supported by said bracket extension, a bell-crank pivotally supported by said anvil support bracket adjacent the anvil, said bell-crank operatively connecting oneend of the cam controlled rocking lever with the anvil, a plate cam coordinated with the sliding jaw cam mechanisms rotatably mounted below the anvil, said plate cam being operative to engage the opposite end of said cam-controlled rocking lever to tilt the anvil when the sliding jaws complete the pullon the base in spaced relation to the first hopper, means selecting and aligning said sliders from the first hopper, the second hopper comprising an angularly mounted container, a raised substantially conical rotating member mounted within the container, a rail mounted within the container, one end of said rail adjoining'the outer circumference of the rotating member, the formed head of said rail slidably supporting the angularly disposed pivot prongs of the pulls, said rotating member transferring selected pulls from the hopper to the head of the rail, a bracket supported by the base between the first and tion to the corresponding slider, means automatically.

aligning and supporting the pull .in position for assembly with the slider, a housing depending from the base between the first and second hopper, a cam shaft rotatably supported by the housing substantially parallel to the base, a pair of jaws slidably mounted adjacent the anvil operative to press the'pull prongs into the slider openings, a pair of jaw control levers pivotally supported by said bracket, one end of each of said jawcontrol levers engaging one of the sliding jaws, apair of face cams mounted on the camshaft engaging the opposite end of said jaw control levers to move the jaws into, the prong closing position, a rocking lever pivotally supported by said bracket, a bell-crank pivotally supported by said bracket,

12 said bell-crank operatively connecting .one end of the rocking lever with the anvil, a plate ca-rn mounted on the camshaft engaging the opposite end of the rocking lever to control the slider discharge movement of the anvil, coordinated with the prong jaw sliding movement, the tripping of said anvil being operative, to discharge the slider and pull assembly after the pull prongs are inserted in the slider openings.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name 1,616,641 Tainter 1927 1,973,720 Lockie Sept. 18, 1934 1,997,542v Corner -'-....a .2 Apr. 9, 1935 2,052,179 Hopkinson .2.. Aug. 25, 1936 2,053,544 Winterhalter Sept. 8, 1936 2,096,685 Osgood Oct. 19, 1937 2,152,591 Hanneman m Mar. 28, 1939 2,188,985 Fuschner a Feb. 6, 1940 2,303,225 Olson Nov. 24, 1942 2,310,033 Muther Feb. 2, 1943 2,354,690 Lawson Aug. 1, 1944 2,370,380v Ulrich a Feb. 27, 1945 

